Print data edit apparatus and recording medium

ABSTRACT

The disclosure discloses a print data edit apparatus including a controller configured to execute a first display control process and a second display control process. In the first display control process, an edit display screen is displayed on a display device. The edit display screen includes a print setting area, an editing area, and an individual setting area, that are disposed side by side with each other from one side toward the other side along a left-to-right direction. A disposing area is displayed at least at a lower portion of the editing area on the display device. In the second display control process, a data file is expanded and displayed in the disposing area in the case that a first indicator of the data file is dragged and dropped to the disposing area via the operation device.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

The present application claims priority from Japanese Patent ApplicationNo. 2017-177954, which was filed on Sep. 15, 2017, the disclosure ofwhich is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

FIELD

The present disclosure relates to a print data edit apparatus forperforming an editing operation on print data and to a recoding mediumfor storing a print data editing program for performing the editingoperation.

BACKGROUND

A print data edit apparatus, which is connected to a print labelproducing apparatus for producing a print label using print data, hasbeen known. The print data edit apparatus of a prior art can open a listwindow and display a data table in a state where an edit display screen(layout window) is displayed. Pieces of data described in the displayeddata table are sequentially allocated to respective objects disposed onthe edit display screen, and thus a corresponding print label can beproduced.

In the print data edit apparatus of the prior art, however, in order todisplay the list window in the state where the edit display screen isdisplayed, “open data preparation window” is required to be selectedfrom a window menu. Thus, an operation of the print data edit apparatusis difficult to understand and troublesome for a user.

SUMMARY

An object of the disclosure is to provide a print data edit apparatusand a recording medium which can display a data table on an edit displayscreen through a simple operation and produce a print label easily.

In order to achieve the above-described object, according to the aspectof the present application, there is provided a print data editapparatus that is configured to perform an editing operation on printdata and to be connected to a print label producing apparatus configuredto print on a print-receiving medium by using the print data to producea print label, the print data edit apparatus comprising a displaydevice, an operation device, and a controller, the controller beingconfigured to execute a first display control process in which an editdisplay screen is displayed on the display device, wherein the editdisplay screen includes a print setting area, an editing area and anindividual setting area that are disposed side by side with each otherfrom one side toward the other side along a left-to-right direction inthe edit display screen, and a disposing area that is capable ofdisposing a data file prepared separately to be displayed at least at alower portion of the editing area on the display device, wherein theprint setting area is for performing a setting with respect to theprint-receiving medium, the editing area is for editing an object to bedisposed on the print label, and the individual setting area is forperforming a setting with respect to the object, and a second displaycontrol process in which the data file is expanded and displayed in thedisposing area in the case that a first indicator of the data filedisplayed on the display device is dragged and dropped to the disposingarea via the operation device.

A print data edit apparatus according to the disclosure is used in astate of being connected to a print label producing apparatus whichproduces a print label using print data. The print data edit apparatusincludes a display device. The display device is controlled by acontroller to display an edit display screen for editing the print data.When a user performs a suitable editing operation such as producing adesired object on the edit display screen, the print data reflecting theediting operation is transmitted to the print label producing apparatus.Consequently, a print label on which corresponding print data is printedis produced.

In this case, according to the disclosure, the controller executes afirst display control process in which the edit display screen displayedon the display device is divided into three areas, that is, a printsetting area, an editing area, and an individual setting area, and adisposing area for disposing a data file is provided in a lower portionof the editing area. When a user produces a print label using the datafile prepared separately, the user operates an operation device to dragand drop an indicator (for example, an icon or a proper mark)representing the data file, which is displayed on the display device, tothe disposing area. Thus, the controller executes a second displaycontrol process in which the data file is expanded in the disposingarea, and, for example, a data table is displayed. Consequently, a usercan produce a print label easily through a simple operation.

The print setting area, the editing area, and the individual settingarea are disposed on the edit display screen side by side from one side(for example, left side) of a left to right direction toward the otherside (for example, right side) in accordance with a producing procedureof a print label. Thus, a user is only required to operate the operationdevice so as to sequentially perform operations on the edit displayscreen from the one side toward the other side in accordance with theoperation procedure at the time of producing the print label.Consequently, a user can easily perform the operations in a plain way.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram schematically showing a printsystem which includes a print data edit apparatus, for executing a printprocess program, according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram showing detailed functions ofindividual portions of the print system.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of display contents of a displayscreen which is displayed on a display unit of an operation terminal.

FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining a setting example in a printerselection view.

FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining a setting example in the printerselection view.

FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining a setting example in the printerselection view.

FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining a setting example in the printerselection view.

FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining a display example on an inspectorview.

FIG. 9 is a diagram for explaining a display example on the inspectorview.

FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining a procedure in a case that a datafile is expanded by dragging and dropping an icon of the data file.

FIG. 11 is a diagram for explaining the procedure in the case where thedata file is expanded by dragging and dropping the icon of the datafile.

FIG. 12 is a diagram for explaining the procedure in the case where thedata file is expanded by dragging and dropping the icon of the datafile.

FIG. 13 is a diagram for explaining the procedure in the case where thedata file is expanded by dragging and dropping the icon of the datafile.

FIG. 14 is a diagram for explaining a procedure in which data of thedata file expanded in a database view is caused to flow into an editingview.

FIG. 15 is a diagram for explaining the procedure in which the data ofthe data file expanded in the database view is caused to flow into theediting view.

FIG. 16 is a diagram for explaining the procedure in which the data ofthe data file expanded in the database view is caused to flow into theediting view.

FIG. 17 is a diagram for explaining the procedure in which the data ofthe data file expanded in the database view is caused to flow into theediting view.

FIG. 18 is a diagram for explaining the procedure in which the data ofthe data file expanded in the database view is caused to flow into theediting view.

FIG. 19 is a diagram for explaining the procedure in which the data ofthe data file expanded in the database view is caused to flow into theediting view.

FIG. 20 is a diagram showing a state in which an object is disposedvariously in an inspector view.

FIG. 21 is a diagram showing a state in which a color pallet isdisplayed on the inspector view.

FIG. 22 is a diagram showing a state in which a color pallet isdisplayed.

FIG. 23 is a diagram showing a detailed example of the color pallet.

FIG. 24 is a diagram showing a state in which the color pallet isdisplayed on a printer selection view.

FIG. 25 is a flowchart showing an example of a control procedure whichis executed by a CPU of the operation terminal.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENT

An embodiment according to the disclosure will be explained withreference to drawings.

An entire configuration of a print system, which includes a print dataedit apparatus for executing a print process program according to theembodiment, will be explained with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. In FIG.1, a print system 1 includes at least one operation terminal 2 which isconfigured of, for example, a general-purpose personal computer, and atleast one label printer 3 which is connected to the operation terminal 2via a communication network NW such as LAN. Each operation terminal 2 isconnected to each label printer 3 via the communication network NW so asto be able to transmit and receive information to each other.

Each label printer 3 transmits and receives various information andinstruction signals to and from each operation terminal 2, and producesa print label, on which desired characters, graphics, and the like areprinted, based on an operation of a user (operator) using the operationterminal 2. In this case, the label printer 3 can produce a print label(not shown) of an optional length, using a print-receiving tape of apredetermined width which is wound around a tape roll mounted on thelabel printer 3. The label printer 3 can selectively attach and detachplural types of tape rolls or cartridges in accordance with the type ofa print-receiving tape. That is, a user can optionally select theprint-receiving tape of a predetermined type of width size (sheet size).In this embodiment, plural models of the label printers 3 are connectedto the communication network NW, and each operation terminal 2 canselectively operate one of the plural models of the label printers 3 viathe communication network NW.

As shown in FIG. 2, the operation terminal 2 includes a CPU 12, a memory13 formed of, for example, a RAM and a ROM, an operation unit 14, adisplay unit 17, a communication controller 15, and a mass storage 16.

The operation unit 14 is configured of, for example, a mouse and akeyboard which input an instruction and information from a user. Thedisplay unit 17 displays various information and messages. Thecommunication controller 15 controls transmission/reception of aninformation signal to/from the label printer 3. The mass storage 16stores various programs and information. The various programs andinformation stored in the mass storage 16 will be described later. TheCPU 12 performs various processes and transmits/receives variousinstruction signals and information signals to/from the label printer 3in accordance with the programs stored in the ROM and the mass storage16 in advance while utilizing a temporary storing function of the RAM.

As shown in FIG. 2, the label printer 3 includes a control circuit 202,a tape roll holder 210, a printing head 205, a cutter 207, acommunication controller 208, and a transfer unit 209. The tape rollholder 210 can attach and detach a tape roll 204 (or a cartridge havingthe tape roll 204) around which a print-receiving tape 203 (that is, asheet which has a spiral shape originally but is illustrated as aconcentric shape for the sake of simplification) is wound. The printinghead 205 performs a desired print on the print-receiving tape 203 whichis unreeled from the tape roll 204. In this example, the printing head205 is configured to be able to perform the print using desired colorsof a user according to the known method (detailed explanation isomitted). The cutter 207 cuts the tape 203, the print of which has beencompleted, at a predetermined length, thereby forming a print label. Thetransfer unit 209 is provided so as to face the printing head 205. Thetransfer unit 209 is controlled by the control circuit 202 to transferthe tape 203 unreeled from the tape roll 204. The control circuit 202 isconnected to the communication controller 15 of the operation terminal 2via the communication controller 208 and the communication network NW,whereby the label printer 3 can transmit/receive information to/from theoperation terminal 2.

<Display on Screen Using Print Data Editing Application>

In the print system 1 according to the embodiment, a user can perform anediting and printing operation on print contents of a print label (inother words, print data corresponding to the print contents, the sameapplies hereafter) by operating the print data editing application whichis operated on the operation terminal 2. When a user activates the printdata editing application on the operation terminal 2, the CPU 12controls the display unit 17 to display, for example, an edit displayscreen 300 shown in FIG. 3.

<Three Views>

In FIG. 3, the edit display screen 300 is divided into three areas(views), that is, a printer selection view 320, an editing view 350, andan inspector view 380 from the left toward the right. A database view310 is provided in a lower portion of at least the editing view 350 ofthe display unit 17. Alternatively, these three views may be providedfrom the right toward the left. The database view 310 may be provided ina lower portion of the printer selection view 320 and the editing view350, a lower portion of the editing view 350 and the inspector view 380,or a lower portion of these three views.

The printer selection view 320 is an area for producing settings withrespect to the print-receiving tape 203. The printer selection view 320includes a printer selection field 321 for displaying and selecting themodel of the label printer 3 which prints a print label. For example,when a user operates a Δ button or a ∇ button at the right end of theprinter selection field 321 by an appropriate operation via theoperation unit 14, a printer box which displays a list of a plurality ofprinter model names (or printer names set by a user, or icons or thelike corresponding to external appearances of the printers) is displayedin an expanded manner in the up and down direction (not shown). A usercan select one printer model from the list. Alternatively, the operationterminal 2 may obtain model information from the label printers 3connected thereto and automatically display the model information on theprinter selection field 321.

The printer selection view 320 further includes a label width settingfield 322A, a size change check box 322B, a label length setting field322C, and a size acquisition button 322D.

The label width setting field 322A is a field for selecting and settinga width of the print-receiving tape 203 (in other words, a print label)which is mounted on the label printer 3. The label length setting field322C is a field for setting a length of a print label which is producedusing the print-receiving tape 203.

The size change check box 322B is a box for setting, based on presenceor absence of a check, whether or not to change a label size inaccordance with editing results (the number of characters of a text, andthe like) with respect to a label layout in the editing view 350.

The size acquisition button 322D is a button for automatically acquiringa size of the print-receiving tape 203 which is mounted on the labelprinter 3.

In this case, the label width setting field 322A and the label lengthsetting field 322C are each displayed in such a way that a display modethereof is changed in accordance with the type of a print-receivingmedium, for example, whether or not to produce a constant-length label(so called a die cut label) whose label length is fixed, or whether ornot to produce a non-constant-length label whose a label length changesin accordance with a layout of print contents (details will be describedlater).

The printer selection view 320 can further perform settings peculiar tothe selected label printer 3 (color, margin, direction, etc. of theprint-receiving tape 203).

<Editing View>

The editing view 350 is an area for editing an object to be disposed ona print label. A preview (formed of a label image LI and an editing areaframe FL disposed in the label image LI) of a print label to be producedis displayed on the editing view 350. A user can insert and edit anoptional object (text object or the like) in the editing area frame FLby appropriately operating the operation unit 14. Display contents ofthe label image LI and the editing area frame FL correspond to variousselecting and setting results in the printer selection view 320 andchange when the selecting and setting results change (details will bedescribed later).

<Inspector View>

The inspector view 380 is an area for performing settings with respectto an object being selected in the editing view 350. The inspector view380 includes a format area for performing settings peculiar to an object(font, character color, background color, etc. in a case of, forexample, a text object) and a layout area for producing settings notdepending on the type of an object (position, size, etc. of an object)(details will be described later).

<Database View>

The database view 310 is an area for disposing a data file producedseparately. As shown in FIG. 3, the database view 310 displays, in aninitial state, a message MS (“Connect to database via drag & drop intohere”) representing that the data file can be disposed.

<Setting Example of Printer Selection View>

FIG. 4 shows an example of actual selection and setting in the printerselection view 320.

FIG. 4 shows an example in which a label printer of type “UOD-820NWB”manufactured by Fisher Co, Ltd. is selected and displayed in the printerselection field 321 by a user's appropriate operation via the operationunit 14.

Further, when a Δ button or a ∇ button at the right end of the labelwidth setting field 322A is operated by a user's appropriate operationvia the operation unit 14, a list R is expanded in a pull-down format.In this example, in the list R, individual sizes such as “width 17mm×length 54 mm”, “width 17 mm×length 87 mm”, “width 23 mm×length 23mm”, “width 29 mm×length 42 mm”, “width 29 mm×length 90 mm”, “width 38mm×length 90 mm”, “width 39 mm×length 48 mm”, “width 52 mm×length 29mm”, “width 54 mm×length 29 mm”, “width 60 mm×length 86 mm”, “width 62mm×length 29 mm”, and “width 62 mm×length 100 mm” corresponding to theconstant-length labels and individual sizes such as “width 12 mm”,“width 29 mm”, “width 38 mm”, “width 50 mm”, “width 54 mm”, and “width62 mm” corresponding to the non-constant-length labels are displayed asa list so as to be selectable.

In the example shown in FIG. 4, the constant-length label of “width 62mm×length 100 mm” is selected in the list R. FIG. 5 shows a state inwhich this selection is determined. As shown in FIG. 5, the label imageLI of “width 62 mm×length 100 mm” and the editing area frame FL havingthe sizes correspond to this label image LI are displayed on the editingview 350. When the constant-length label is selected in this manner, asshown in FIG. 5, none of the size change check box 322B and the labellength setting field 322C are displayed.

On the other hand, when the non-constant-length label is selected in thelist R shown in FIG. 4, firstly the size change check box 322B and thelabel length setting field 322C are displayed as usual (without notbeing displayed unlike the above-described case).

Thereafter, when the size change check box 322B is checked, the labellength setting field 322C is placed in a selectable and input-acceptablestate. FIG. 6 shows a case that “27 mm” is selected in the label lengthsetting field 322C. The label image LI of “width 36 mm×length 27 mm”corresponding to the selection and the editing area frame FL having thesizes corresponding to this label image LI are displayed on the editingview 350.

When the size change check box 322B remains unchecked, an automaticlength setting state is set and the label length setting field 322C ishidden, whereby the label image LI extends in accordance with a text,etc. input in the editing area frame FL. FIG. 7 shows a state in which acharacter string T1, that is, “Railway” is input in an editing areaframe FL1 by a user's appropriate operation of the operation unit 14,and thereby an object (text object) O1 is generated. Since the size isautomatically adjusted in correspondence with the input character stringT1, the label image LI of “width 29 mm×length 83 mm” and the editingarea frame FL having the sizes correspond to this label image LI aredisplayed.

<Display Example of Inspector View>

The inspector view 380 changes an item to be displayed thereon inaccordance with an object which is displayed on the editing view 350.For example, FIG. 8 shows a state in which the object O1 formed of theediting area frame FL1 and the character string T1 of “Railway”(hereinafter appropriately called “text object O1”) and an object O2formed of an editing area frame FL2 and a hart mark M2 (that is, animage object, which is hereinafter appropriately called “image objectO2”) are input and displayed according to the method described withreference to FIG. 7. In the example shown in FIG. 8, the text object O1is selected by appropriately operating the operation unit 14. Theselected object is displayed by small black points called handles whichare disposed on the four corners and the midpoints of the four sides ofthe editing area frame corresponding to the object. Incidentally, thehandles of the black points of the individual sides may not be displayeddepending on, for example, a size of the editing area frame.

In this example, as shown in FIG. 8, the inspector view 380 displays aposition setting field 380A, a size setting field 380B, a rotationsetting field 380C, and a front-rear setting field 380D.

The position setting field 380A is a field for setting how to adjust arelative positional relation of the text object O1 with respect to aprint area set in a predetermined mode in the label image LI. The sizesetting field 380B is a field for setting width/length sizes and awidth/length ratio of the text object O1. The rotation setting field380C is a field for setting whether to rotate the text object O1disposed in the label image LI clockwise or counterclockwise. Thefront-rear setting field 380D is a field for setting whether to move thetext object O1 to the rear side or the front side with respect toanother object.

FIG. 9 shows a state in which the image object O2 is selected by auser's appropriate operation via the operation unit 14. Handles aredisplayed on the editing area frame FL2 of the selected image object O2.As shown in FIG. 9, the inspector view 380 displays an image filesetting field 380E in this case. The image file setting field 380Edisplays a feature of the image object O2, for example, a screen shot,image creation date and time, a file attribute, and the like.

<Object Generation by Expanding Data File>

A feature of the embodiment is that a data file can be expanded in thedatabase view 310 using an icon of the data file, and an object can begenerated in the editing view 350 using data contents in the expandeddata file. Hereinafter, the process of generating an object will beexplained in detail.

FIG. 10 is a state in which an icon IC (or another proper mark, or thelike) of a data file DF containing desired data (see FIG. 13, etc.explained later) is displayed on the printer selection view 320 by auser's appropriate operation via the operation unit 14 in a state that,for example, the text object O1 and the image object O2 are displayed asshown in FIGS. 8 and 9.

In this state, for example, as shown in FIG. 11, the icon IC is draggeddownward from the editing view 350 to the database view 310 by a user'sappropriate operation via the operation unit 14. Then, as shown in FIG.12, the icon IC thus dragged is dropped to the database view 310. Thus,as shown in FIG. 13, the data file DF is automatically expanded in thedatabase view 310 and a list of data in the data file DF is displayed(in a data table format). In the example shown in FIG. 13, four fields“No.”, “URL”, “Title”, and “Description” are provided in the data fileDF, and data is allocated to eight records Nos. 1-8 in correspondencewith the four fields. As shown in FIG. 13, the record No. 1 is selectedin a default state (see black portion).

In this state, for example, as shown in FIG. 14, a user appropriatelyoperates the operation unit 14 to designate one field (in this example,“Title”) in the data file DF using a mouse pointer MP by a user'sappropriate operation via the operation unit 14. Then, as shown in FIG.15, a user drags and drops the mouse pointer MP to the object (in thisexample, text object O1 “Railway”) into which data is caused to flow.

Thus, as shown in FIG. 16, corresponding data is automatically caused toflow into the editing area frame FL1 of the text object O1. In thisexample, as shown in FIG. 16, of data disposed in order of record No. inthe field “Title”, “USB Survey” contained in the selected record No. 1is caused to flow into the text object O1. Consequently, as shown inFIG. 16, a character string T1′ of “USB Survey” is allocated to theediting area frame FL1 in place of the character string T1 of “Railway”having been provided in the text object O1.

In this case, data in the field designated by the mouse pointer MP (inthis example, “Title”) is linked to the dropped object (in this example,text object O1) to each other in such a way that data in the objectchanges when a record selected in the field changes. For example, asshown in FIG. 17, when the second record of the field “Title” isselected, a character string T1” of “Welcome to USA” is allocated to thetext object O1 using data “Welcome to USA” of the second record.

The embodiment is not limited to the above-described case in which themouse pointer MP is dragged and dropped into an already displayed objectin the editing view 350, and thereby a character string or the like inthe object is replaced with data designated by the mouse pointer. Thatis, in a state in which only the editing area frame FL (containing nocharacter string or the like) is displayed on the editing view 350 (see,for example, FIGS. 3 to 6, etc.), the mouse pointer MP may be draggedand dropped into the editing area frame FL, and thereby a characterstring or the like may be generated in the editing area frame FL tocomplete an object.

Alternatively, a user may drag and drop the mouse pointer MP into aposition in which no object exists. For example, in an example shown inFIG. 18, the mouse pointer MP is dragged and dropped into a position inwhich no object exists (in this example, right side of the image objectO2) by a user' appropriate operation via the operation unit 14. In thiscase, as shown in FIG. 19, a new editing area frame FL3 is formedadjacent to the right side of the image object O2 and the characterstring “USB Survey” is caused to flow into the editing area frame FL3.Consequently, a new text object O3 formed of the character string T3 of“USB Survey” and the editing area frame FL3 is generated.

An object, which is generated using the data file DF and displayed onthe editing view 350 in the above-described manner, can be variously setand arranged using the inspector view 380 as described above. Forexample, FIG. 20 shows a state in which, of the text object O1 and theimage object O2 shown in FIG. 18, a user selects the text object O1 andthen operates a “Left” button of the rotation setting field 380C torotate the text object O1 counterclockwise by 90 degrees.

<Color Setting Using Pallet>

As another feature, the embodiment can set a print color (so called acharacter color or the like) at the time of printing an object using acolor pallet and also set a color (so called a background color) withwhich a background area is printed at the time of printing a characterstring or an image with the print color. Hereinafter, the process of thecolor setting will be explained in detail.

FIG. 21 shows a state in which, of the text object O1 (including thecharacter string T1 of “Railway”) and the image object O2 (including themark M2) generated in the above-described manner, the text object O1 isselected. In this state, when a “color” button provided in the inspectorview 380 (which is displayed separately from the inspector view 380shown in FIG. 8, etc. by an appropriate operation) is operated by auser's appropriate operation via the operation unit 14, a color-settingcolor pallet P1 is displayed. As shown in FIG. 21, the color pallet P1is configured in such a way that plural colors for setting the printcolor (the character color described above) of an object are y arrangedin a grid pattern so as to be selectable. Specifically, different colorsare arranged in a transvers direction and colors different in densityand hue are arranged in a longitudinal direction. In this case, 7×7cells (except for the cell at the lower right corner) are allocated tothe respective colors. When a user selectively operates one of the 7×7cells by appropriately operating the operation unit 14, the print colorof the text object O1 can be selected.

Of the color pallet P1, an icon IB (or may be another proper mark or thelike) is provided on the cell of the lower right corner. The icon 113 isused for calling a high-functional color pallet P2 provided separatelyfrom the color pallet P1. That is, when the icon IB is operated by auser's appropriate operation via the operation unit 14, thehigh-functional color pallet P2 for selecting more detailed print colorof the text object O1 is expanded and displayed as shown in FIG. 22.

As shown in FIG. 23, the color pallet P2 is configured in such a waythat 6×13=78 cells having colors different in density and hue from oneanother are arranged. A user can select the print color of the textobject O1 by appropriately operating the operation unit 14 to operateone of the 6×13 cells.

Incidentally, as shown in FIG. 24, a color pallet P1 similar to thecolor pallet described above can also be displayed by operating a“color” button provided in the printer selection view 320 through auser's appropriate operation via the operation unit 14. This colorpallet P1 is used for setting the background color. Also in this colorpallet P1, when an icon IB provided on the cell of the lower rightcorner is operated, a color pallet P2 (not shown) similar to that shownin FIGS. 22 and 23 is expanded and displayed.

<Control Procedure>

An example of a control procedure for achieving the above-describedprocess, which is executed by the CPU 12 of the operation terminal 2, isshown in FIG. 25. A flowchart shown FIG. 25 starts when the editingapplication is activated on the operation terminal 2.

Firstly, in Step S5, the CPU 12 controls the display unit 17 to displaythe edit display screen 300 which includes the printer selection view320, the editing view 350, the inspector view 380, and the database view310 (see FIGS. 3 to 5, etc.).

Thereafter, in Step S10, the CPU 12 displays the icon IC of the datafile DF including the desired data on the printer selection view 320which is displayed in Step S5 based on a user's appropriate operationvia the operation unit 14 (see FIG. 10).

In Step S15, the CPU 12 determines whether or not the icon IC displayedin Step S10 is dragged and dropped into the database view 310 by auser's appropriate operation via the operation unit 14. When the icon ICis not dragged and dropped into the database view 310, the determinationin Step S15 is not affirmative (NO in Step S15), and thus this loop ismaintained. In contrast, when the icon IC is dragged and dropped intothe database view 310, the determination in Step S15 is affirmative (YESin Step S15), and thus the process proceeds to Step S20.

In Step S20, the CPU 12 expands the data file DF and controls thedisplay unit 17 to display a list of the data in the data file DF on thedatabase view 310 (see FIG. 13, etc.).

Thereafter, in Step S25, the CPU 12 determines whether or not adesignated field in the database view 310 is dragged and dropped intothe label image LI. When the designated field is not dragged and droppedinto the label image LI, the determination in Step S25 is notaffirmative (NO in Step S25), and thus this loop is maintained. Incontrast, when the designated field is dragged and dropped into thelabel image LI, the determination in Step S25 is affirmative (YES inStep S25), and thus the process proceeds to Step S30.

In Step S30, the CPU 12 determines whether or not the position, intowhich the designated field is dragged and dropped in Step S25, is in theobject which already exists in the label image LI (or the object whichalready exists in the editing area frame FL, the same applieshereafter). When the position is in the object (see FIG. 15), thedetermination in Step S30 is affirmative (YES in Step S30), and thus theprocess proceeds to Step S35. In contrast, when the position is outsidethe object, the determination in Step S30 is not affirmative (NO in StepS30), and thus the process proceeds to Step S36.

In Step S36, the CPU 12 controls the display unit 17 to newly add anobject in the label image LI (or the editing area frame FL) (see FIG.19). Thereafter, the process proceeds to Step S35.

In Step S35, the CPU 12 causes the data of the corresponding record inthe designated field, which is an origination of the drag and dropoperation in Step S25, to flow into the target object. Thereafter, theCPU 12 terminates this flowchart.

Advantage of Embodiment

As described above, when a user drags and drops the icon IC representingthe data file DF to the database view 310, the data file DF is expandedin the database view 310 and the data table is displayed. Thus, a usercan produce a print label easily by a simple operation. Further, theprinter selection view 320, the editing view 350, and the inspector view380 are disposed side by side in the edit display screen 300 in thisorder from the left toward the right in accordance with the producingprocedure of the print label. Thus, a user is only required to operatethe operation unit 14 so as to sequentially perform operations on theedit display screen 300 from the left side toward the right side inaccordance with the operation procedure at the time of producing theprint label. Consequently, a user can easily perform the operations in aplain way.

Particularly, in this embodiment, when a user drags and drops the datacontents of the data file DF, which is expanded and displayed on thedatabase view 310 in the above-described manner, to the object (the textobject O1 in the above-described example) in the editing view 350, thedragged and dropped data contents are incorporated in the object.Specifically, the data contents of the text object O1 in the editingview 350 are replaced with the dragged and dropped data contents (in theabove-described example, the character string T1′ of “USB Survey”). Whenonly the editing area frame FL exists in the editing view 350, thedragged and dropped data contents are formed in the editing area frameFL as a new object. Consequently, a user can more easily produce a printlabel.

Particularly, in this embodiment, the database view 310 displays, in theinitial state, the message MS (“Connect to database via drag & drop intohere”) that the data file can be disposed. Thus, a user can reliablyrecognize that the area disposed in the lower portion of the editingview 350 is the data file view 310 in which the data file DF can bedisposed and expanded by the drag and drop operation.

Particularly, in this embodiment, as explained with reference to FIGS. 8and 9, when one of the plurality of objects is selected in the statethat these objects are displayed on the editing view 350, the itemdisplayed on the inspector view 380 is changed in accordance with thetype of the selected object. Thus, since a user can reliably perform thesetting in the inspector view 380 for each object displayed on theediting view 350 without confusion, convenience of a user is improved.

Particularly, in this embodiment, a plurality of medium setting fields(in the above-described example, the label width setting field 322A andthe label length setting field 322C) are displayed side by side in theleft to right direction. Thus, a user can easily intuitively set a widthand a length of a print-receiving medium. Further, since the displaymode of each of the medium setting fields is automatically changed inaccordance with the type of a print-receiving medium, a user canreliably perform the setting for each print-receiving medium withoutconfusion, and convenience of a user is improved.

Particularly, in this embodiment, a user can set a print color for theobject or the like by selecting a desired color by oneself from aplurality of colors which are arranged in the color pallet P1 in thegrid pattern. Further, for example, when a user desires to select thecolor more in detail, a user can display the color pallet P2 byoperating the icon IB disposed in the first color pallet P1.Consequently, since a user can perform the detailed color selectionusing the displayed color pallet P2, convenience of a user is improved.

The control procedure according to the disclosure is not limited to theflowchart shown in FIG. 25, and various modifications of the controlprocedure can be made such as adding a process, deleting the process, orchanging the order of the processes, within a range not departing fromthe gist and the technical concept of the disclosure.

In addition to the aforesaid modifications, the disclosure may bemodified by appropriately combining the techniques of the embodiment andthe modified examples described above.

What is claimed is:
 1. A print data edit apparatus that is configured toperform an editing operation on print data and to be connected to aprint label producing apparatus configured to print on a print-receivingmedium by using said print data to produce a print label, the print dataedit apparatus comprising: a display device; an operation device; and acontroller; the controller being configured to execute: a first displaycontrol process in which an edit display screen is displayed on saiddisplay device, wherein said edit display screen includes a printsetting area, an editing area and an individual setting area that aredisposed side by side with each other from one side toward the otherside along a left-to-right direction in the edit display screen, and adisposing area that is capable of disposing a data file preparedseparately to be displayed at least at a lower portion of said editingarea on said display device, wherein the print setting area is forperforming a setting with respect to said print-receiving medium, theediting area is for editing an object to be disposed on said printlabel, and the individual setting area is for performing a setting withrespect to said object; and a second display control process in whichsaid data file is expanded and displayed in said disposing area in acase that a first indicator of said data file displayed on said displaydevice is dragged and dropped to said disposing area via said operationdevice.
 2. The print data edit apparatus according to claim 1, whereinsaid controller is configured to further execute a third display controlprocess in which said object incorporated with data contents isgenerated and displayed in said editing area in a state where saidobject or an object area in which said object is disposed is displayedin said editing area, in a case that said data contents in said datafile that is expanded and displayed in said disposing area are draggedand dropped to said object or said object area via said operationdevice.
 3. The print data edit apparatus according to claim 1, whereinin said first display control process, in an initial state, a messagethat said data file can be disposed is displayed in said disposing area.4. The print data edit apparatus according to claim 1, wherein in saidfirst display control process, in a case that one of a plurality ofobjects is selected through an operation of said operation device in astate where said plurality of objects are displayed in said editingarea, an item to be displayed in said individual setting area is changedin accordance with a type of the object selected.
 5. The print data editapparatus according to claim 1, wherein in said first display controlprocess, a plurality of medium setting fields for setting a width and alength of said print-receiving medium are further displayed side by sidewith each other along said left-to-right direction in said print settingarea, and a display mode of each of said medium setting fields ischanged in accordance with a type of said print-receiving medium.
 6. Theprint data edit apparatus according to claim 1, wherein in said firstdisplay control process, a first color pallet is further displayed insaid print setting area or said individual setting area, wherein aplurality of colors for setting a print color of said object arearranged in a grid pattern in said first color pallet, and a secondindicator for displaying a second color pallet provided separately fromsaid first color pallet is disposed and displayed in said first colorpallet.
 7. A non-transitory computer-readable recording medium storing aprint data editing program for executing steps on a computing device,said computing device being provided to a print data edit apparatus thatincludes a display device, an operation device, and said computingdevice, and that is configured to edit print data, and to be connectedto a print label producing apparatus configured to print on aprint-receiving medium by using said print data to produce a printlabel, said steps comprising: a first display control step fordisplaying, on said display device, an edit display screen in which aprint setting area for performing a setting with respect to saidprint-receiving medium, an editing area for editing an object to bedisposed on said print label, and an individual setting area forperforming a setting with respect to said object are disposed side byside with each other from one side toward the other side along aleft-to-right direction, and for displaying a disposing area that iscapable of disposing a data file prepared separately, at least at alower portion of said editing area on said display device; and a seconddisplay control step for expanding and displaying said data file in saiddisposing area in a case that a first indicator of said data filedisplayed on said display device is dragged and dropped to saiddisposing area via said operation device.